Wood flooring



June 2,. 1931. I c, A BRUCE 1,808,591

WOOD FLOORING File'd April 10; 1929 Patented June 2, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES ARTHUR BRUCE, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR TO E. BRUCE COM- PANY, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE WOOD FLOORING Application filed April 10,1929. Serial No. 354,124.

My invention relates to wood flooring and one of the ob'ects is to diminish the deleterious effects W ich arise from swelling of the wood due to moisture absorption.

My invention is particularly applicable in connection with plank flooring, for there, the individual boards are wider than usual and for that reason greateu expansion takes place upon moisture absorption than is the case with narrower strip flooring. However,

the invention can be used with the same effect in strip flooring and block flooring.

Referring to the drawings for a more complete disclosure of the invention, I

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the invention applied to plank flooring.

.Figure 2 is a fragmentary end view of adjacent planks.

The planks forming the floor are united along their longitudinal edges by tongue and groove joints. As more particularly shown in Figure 2, the plank 1 is provided with the parallel sided tongue 3, which is of the customary size and sha e. It fits tightly into .25 the parallel sides of t c groove 4 of the plank 2, but when in final position, there is nor- -mally a clearance 5 between the tip of the tongue and the bottom of the groove. On the under side of the tongue and groove there is provided the customary relief 6, which is normally a spaceof about of an inch, and usually made by cutting back the underlip 7 to that extent.

Above the tongue and groove joint, the planks 1 and 2 are partly in abutting relationship, this being due to the fact, that the edges 8 and 9 are parallel and at right angles to the face of the planks. If the edges 8 and 9 are carried through to the face of the planks, when any expansion sideways of the quarter .of an inch wide. The dimensions of the V can be changed to meet different requirements as desired although the proportions indicated havebeen found satisfactory.

Along the bottom of the planks there are provided the hollow grooves 11 for the purpose of controlling expansion of the back face of the flooring.

From the construction as disclosed, it will be clear'that when the planks arc in normal position in the flooring that only abutting edges are at 8 and 9; that above and below these edges thefiooring can expand sideways freely without compressing the wood.

If the flooring does expand sideways, it will be put under compression only along the edges 8 and 9 and since this is only a small portion of the total width of the side of the flooring, it will not distort the face of the floor to'the same extent as in the absence of the groove. But if some distortion does take place it is not so apparent when using the V groove. as without it.

I claim: 1

1. A. floor formed of strips ofwood united 7 along their edges by a tongue and groove joint, the edges of the strips being in abutting relationship for only a part of the distance between the said tongue and groove and the front face of the strips and spaced apart for the remaining distance whereby the strips can expand edgeways above and below the said abutting edges Without compressing the wood at such points.

2. A floor formed of strips of wood united along their-edges by a tongue and groove joint, the sides of the tongue and groove being parallel, a portion of the edges of the strips above the tongue and groove'being at right angles to the sides of the tongue and groove, and in abutting relationship, the remaining portion of the edges being spaced apart, whereby the strips can expand edgeways above and below the said abutting edges without compressin the wood at such points.

3. A floor forme of strips of wood united along their edges by a tongue and groove joint, the sides of the tongue and groove being parallel with the face of the strips, a clearance between the end of the tongue and 1 0 the bottom of the groove, a portion of the edges of the strips above the tongue and groove being at right angles to the sides of the tongue and groove and in abutting rel-21' I 5 tionship for only a portion of the distance between the said tongue and groove and the face of the strips whereby the strips can expand edgeways above and below the said abutting edges Without compressing the wood at such points, and a groove above the said portions. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

C. ARTHUR BRUCE. 

